Bertram Brooker
Encyclopedia
Bertram Richard Brooker was a Canadian
writer, painter, musician, and advertising agency executive.
Born in Croydon
, England
, to Richard Brooker and Mary Ann (Skinner) Brooker, he moved to Portage la Prairie
, Manitoba
in 1905 with his family. In 1913 he rented a movie theatre in Neepawa
, Manitoba. That same year he married Mary Aurilla (“Rill”) Porter. In 1914 he became editor of the Portage Review, a local newspaper. In 1915 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Winnipeg
. After the war he worked for The Winnipeg Tribune, The Regina Leader-Post and The Winnipeg Free Press.
He moved to Toronto, Ontario
in 1921 and joined the staff of Marketing magazine. Brooker served as the magazine's editor and publisher from 1924 until 1926. In 1923, he published his first book, Subconscious Selling. In 1929 he joined the staff of the J.J. Gibbons Advertising Agency.
In 1931 Brooker was embroiled in a controversy about nudity in art when a painting of his was removed from a gallery exhibition because it contained nudity. Brooker later wrote the essay "Nudes and Prudes" in 1931 as a rebuke
.
In 1936, Brooker's novel Think of the Earth (1936) became the first work to win the Governor General's Award
for Fiction. In 1940 he joined the staff of the MacLaren Advertising Co.
Brooker is regarded as the first Canadian abstract impressionist
. He was strongly influenced in his development as an artist by LeMoine Fitzgerald
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer, painter, musician, and advertising agency executive.
Born in Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to Richard Brooker and Mary Ann (Skinner) Brooker, he moved to Portage la Prairie
Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
-Transportation:Portage la Prairie railway station is served by Via Rail with both The Canadian and Winnipeg – Churchill trains calling at the station....
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1905 with his family. In 1913 he rented a movie theatre in Neepawa
Neepawa, Manitoba
Neepawa is a town in Manitoba, Canada located on the Yellowhead Highway at the intersection with Highway 5. its population was 3,298. Neepawa was incorporated as a town in 1883. It is located in the Rural Municipality of Langford and bordered to the north by the Rural Municipality of Rosedale....
, Manitoba. That same year he married Mary Aurilla (“Rill”) Porter. In 1914 he became editor of the Portage Review, a local newspaper. In 1915 he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. After the war he worked for The Winnipeg Tribune, The Regina Leader-Post and The Winnipeg Free Press.
He moved to Toronto, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in 1921 and joined the staff of Marketing magazine. Brooker served as the magazine's editor and publisher from 1924 until 1926. In 1923, he published his first book, Subconscious Selling. In 1929 he joined the staff of the J.J. Gibbons Advertising Agency.
In 1931 Brooker was embroiled in a controversy about nudity in art when a painting of his was removed from a gallery exhibition because it contained nudity. Brooker later wrote the essay "Nudes and Prudes" in 1931 as a rebuke
Rebuke
In English law and the canon law of the Church of England, a rebuke is a censure on a member of the clergy. It is the least severe censure available against clergy of the Church of England, less severe than a monition. A rebuke can be given in person by a bishop or by an ecclesiastical court....
.
In 1936, Brooker's novel Think of the Earth (1936) became the first work to win the Governor General's Award
1936 Governor General's Awards
The 1936 Governor General's Awards for Literary Merit began the tradition of Governor General's awards in Canada. They comprised only two categories, for fiction and non-fiction, and were English language only....
for Fiction. In 1940 he joined the staff of the MacLaren Advertising Co.
Brooker is regarded as the first Canadian abstract impressionist
Abstract impressionism
Abstract Impressionism is a type of abstract painting where small brushstrokes build and structure large paintings...
. He was strongly influenced in his development as an artist by LeMoine Fitzgerald
LeMoine Fitzgerald
Lionel LeMoine Fitzgerald was a Winnipeg-based Canadian painter, and member of the Group of Seven.-Life and work:...
.
Selected bibliography
- Subconscious Selling (1923)
- Layout Technique in Advertising (1929), writing as Richard W. Surrey
- Copy Technique in Advertising (1930), writing as Richard W. Surrey
- Elijah (1930), drawings
- Think of the Earth (1936)
- The Tangled Miracle (1936), writing as Huxley Hearne
- The Robber (1949)
- Sounds Assembling: The Poetry of Bertram Brooker (1980)